Ornithological and Other Oddities 



certainly far milder-natured than European cattle, 

 which are descended from a different species. 



There is much in the London cab-horse's lot 

 that moves us to pity, but he is well off compared 

 with his fellow-toiler in Calcutta, and the contrast 

 strikes every one who first returns from India 

 on leave, as well as natives who visit England. 

 The Calcutta horses are under-sized, ill-shaped 

 creatures, half-starved, slow, and weak. Two 

 are commonly harnessed to one "ticca-gharry," 

 a vehicle somewhat like our " growler," and the 

 only food one sees given to them is grass, a 

 supply of which is carried in a net under the 

 vehicle ; when this halts, the net is fixed on to 

 the pole, and the poor drudges have a meal. 

 The horses in Bombay are much superior animals, 

 and are probably better treated, but, generally 

 speaking, the ordinary working horse of India is 

 a poor, ill-used creature, as far as I saw. Need- 

 less to say, lameness and harness-sores receive 

 little commiseration. The ass is treated much in 

 the same way, or, if anything, probably rather 

 worse. The dog and cat appear to lead a life 

 very similar to that of the pigeons so common 

 in large towns everywhere ; they are ownerless, 

 and have to shift for themselves, but are not 

 ordinarily molested. I do not think the cats are 

 very miserable, as in a country like India there is 



much small prey to be obtained at all times of the 



264 



